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I worked with agencies for years. Most of them were great. The benefits are not having to look for clients, and if there is a problem, the agent can deal with it. But that also comes at a cost. For the most part, students or their carers pay through the nose and very little of that gets to the tutor. It also becomes very hard to have an open discussion about a student's day-to-day needs when there is a middle man. I also don't find it useful (and the research would agree with me) to fill in a written report every week. I want to talk to students about how they feel and to their carers about how the student it progressing. In running my own business I can set an overall lower price than most agencies, give a more personal, direct experience, and take home more at the end of the day. I can build this service over time, including my website, to be useful even when I'm not teaching.

I had to work to achieve what I did in the field, and I understand what it's like not to enjoy the subject. I have no expectations of students other than that they try their best on any given day. I know they're struggling or they wouldn't need tutoring. In the past, it's always been my patience and understanding that have allowed students to thrive. Unless I feel it is to the students benefit (which is sometimes but rarely), I will not make them do question after question from a book or an exam paper. If given enough time, I want to help students develop an understanding (and if possible and appreciation) of where all of these arbitrary things they're told to learn, come from and where they can be applied. There will be times where I say "you're probably not going to use that, but here's why it works and unfortunately you do need to learn it to pass the exam". I want to avoid that at all costs but I will never lie to a student.

I am not a tutor who uses academic success to sell his services. I have always believed that the people who struggled in a subject but persevered and achieved make better teachers than those who (will still have had to work) but have a natural affinity for it. This also isn't something I do part-time to "earn some extra cash". I give it my full attention.

I will consider travelling in special circumstances but would need to charge for that. Most of my tutoring is remote. Rest assured, I have lots of experience in online-tutoring and can do it seamlessly. I also provide time either side of the session in case there are software issues on either end.

All of my services are now online where I used to to two or three in-person sessions per week.